Beads of Courage Bead Bag

Tenderfeet StitchesTenderfeet StitchesTenderfeet StitchesTenderfeet Stitches Courage Bead Bag

Written by Amanda Pazak

Adapted from Beads of Courage bead bag instructions provided by Bettie Hammock

This tutorial is free and encouraged for the use of creating bead bags for Beads of Courage.

DO NOT use or adapt this instructional document to create any documents to sell for profit.

[email protected]@[email protected]@gmail.com

Tenderfeetstitches.blogspot.comTenderfeetstitches.blogspot.comTenderfeetstitches.blogspot.comTenderfeetstitches.blogspot.com

(1)(1)(1)(1)

mailto:[email protected]

Materials

• Fabric

• Thread • Cutting and measuring tools

• Straight pins • Iron

• Sewing Machine • Small Safety Pin

• 1/8”-1/4” Cording or 1/8”-1/2” Ribbon

• Buttonhole Sewing Foot • Fusible Interfacing

• Seam ripper • Beads of Courage Labels (optional) but free. You can find them here along with the original

instructions: http://www.beadsofcourage.org/pages/quilters.htm

I suggest that you prewash your fabric to prevent shrinking and discoloration.

Please read through this tutorial before you begin.

Seam allowance of ¼”



(2)(2)(2)(2)


Options and Tips!

This project is the perfect way to use up your scraps for a great cause! Please take time to read a bit about Beads of Courage.

ü You may choose to make your bags in two different sizes: 1) Large bag (fabric dimensions 12” x 9”) 2) Small bag (fabric dimensions of 10” x 7”)

a. You can get 4 large bags and 1 small bag from 1 1/3 yards of quilter’s cotton. b. If you are using different fabrics for your main fabric and your lining, 24” (or

2/3) of each will give you 4 large bags and 1 small bag. ü For 15 bags (12 large and 3 small) you will need:

1) 2 yards for your main fabric. 2) 2 yards for your lining fabric. 3) Approximately 15 yards of cording or ribbon. 4) 15” x 15” or fusible interfacing, or 15 1” squares.

ü For 25 bags (20 large and 5 small) you will need: 1) 3 1/3 yards for your main fabric. 2) 3 1/3 yards for your lining fabric. 3) Approximately 25 yards or cording or ribbon 4) 25” x 25” of fusible interfacing, or 25 1” squares.

ü For 50 bags ( 40 large and 10 small) you will need: 5) 6 2/3 yards for your main fabric. 6) 6 2/3 yards for your lining fabric. 7) Approximately 50 yards or cording or ribbon 8) 50” x 50” of fusible interfacing, or 50 1” squares.

ü For 75 bags (60 large and 15 small) you will need: 9) 10 yards for your main fabric. 10) 10 yards for your lining fabric. 11) Approximately 75 yards or cording or ribbon 12) 75” x 75” of fusible interfacing, or 75 1” squares.

ü For 100 bags ( 80 large and 20 small) you will need: 13) 13 1/3 yards for your main fabric. 14) 13 1/3 yards for your lining fabric. 15) Approximately 100 yards or cording or ribbon 16) 100” x 100” of fusible interfacing, or 100 1” squares.



(3)(3)(3)(3)


Cutting the Pieces

All measurements in the chart are Length x Width and measured in inches.

Length is the measurement from the top to the bottom of the bag.

Width is the measurement around the bag.

One Courage Bead Bag Large Bag Small Bag Main Fabric

cut 2

12” x 9” 10” x 7”

Lining Fabric cut 2

12” x 9” 10” x 7”

Cording or Ribbon cut 1

36” 32”

Fusible Interfacing cut 1

1” x 1” 1” x 1”



(4(4(4(4))))


Cutting the Pieces continued

ü Two (2) main fabric pieces ü Two (2) lining fabric pieces ü One (1) length of cording or ribbon ü One (1) square of interfacing ü One (1) Beads of Courage Bead Bag label optional



(5(5(5(5))))


The Label optional

1) You will begin by attaching your label. a. Grab one lining piece, your label and a few pins. b. Place the lining piece in front of you with the short sides at the top and bottom and the

right side of the fabric facing you. c. Fold the lining piece in half, along the length, and press a crease with your finger along

this fold. Unfold. d. Pin the label at the top of the lining piece ½” down from the top edge, centered on your

crease. The right side of the fabric and the label are facing up. e. Sew around all for sides of the label, very close to the edges. Be sure you backstitch!



(6(6(6(6))))


Joining the Lining Pieces

1) Grab both lining pieces. a. Place one lining piece in front of you with the right side of the fabric facing upward. b. Place the second lining piece on top of the first with the right sides of the fabric facing

inward. Align all of the edges. c. Sew down the two long sides, the length. You now have a tube. d. Iron each seam flat.



(7(7(7(7))))


Sewing the Buttonholes

1) Grab one of your main fabric pieces, your square of interfacing, a buttonhole sewing foot, a measuring device and your seam ripper.

a. Place the main fabric piece in front of you with the short sides at the top and bottom and the WRONG side of the fabric facing you.

b. Fold the piece in half, along the length, and press a crease with your finger along this fold. Unfold.

c. Fuse the interfacing to the back of your fabric, centered along the center crease the appropriate distance:

ü Large bag, center your interfacing 2.5” from the top edge, along the center crease.

ü Small bag, center your interfacing 2” from the top edge, along the center crease. 2) You will now sew two ½” buttonholes on the front side of your fabric, over the interfacing, just

left and right of center. a. Use your seam ripper to carefully open your buttonholes.



(8(8(8(8))))


Joining the Main Pieces

2) Grab both main pieces. e. Place one piece in front of you with the right side of the fabric facing upward. f. Place the second lining piece on top of the first with the right sides of the fabric facing

inward. Align all of the edges. g. Sew down the two long sides, the length. You now have a tube. h. Iron each seam flat.



(9(9(9(9))))


Joining the Main Fabric and the Lining

1) You will now join the main fabric to the lining by attaching them along the top edge. a. Turn your lining fabric tube right-side-out. b. Your main fabric tube should still be in-side-out. c. Slide the lining tube completely inside the main fabric tube. d. Align your side seams. e. Be sure the piece with the buttonholes is not touching the piece with the label

attached. One should be to the back and the other to the front. f. The buttonholes and the label should be at the same end, the top. g. Align the top edges. h. Sew around the top edge. i. Turn the piece in-side-out and iron the seam flat.



(10(10(10(10))))


Sewing the Bottom Edges

1) You will now close the bottom of your bag. a. Be sure your bag is in-side-out. b. Sew the bottom edges of your main fabric pieces together. c. Clip the corners slightly, but do not compromise your stitch. This will give you nice

square corners when you turn the bag right-side-out. d. Turn your bag right-side-out and gently push out the corners. e. Iron your seam. f. Sew the bottom edges of your lining fabric together; be sure to finish this seam. For

more information on finishing seams please visit my blog. g. Tuck the lining into your bag. Iron if needed.



(11(11(11(11))))


Sewing the Casing

1) You will now create a casing for your cording or ribbon. a. This stitch is optional, but I like to topstitch around the top edge of the bag, about ¼”

from the edge. This ensures that the top edges stay aligned. b. Sew one continuous stitch all the way around your bag about ¼” above your

buttonholes. Be sure you backstitch. c. Sew one continuous stitch all the way around your bag about ¼” below your

buttonholes. Be sure you backstitch.



(12(12(12(12))))


Inserting the Cording or Ribbon

1) Grab your bag, your cording or ribbon and a small safety pin. a. Clip the safety pin to one end of your ribbon. b. Insert the safety pin into one of the buttonholes. c. Work the safety pin around and out the second buttonhole. d. Unclip the safety pin and adjust your ribbon until each end is of equal length. e. Clip the ends to about the length of the bag and tie a knot near the end of each. f. Sew a stitch along one of the seams, starting at the stitch at the top of the casing and

continuing to the stitch at the bottom of the casing. Backstitch along this stitch. This seam secures your ribbon so that it cannot be pulled out.

g. Pull the ribbon to close the bag. Wrap the longer tail around the neck of the bag twice and then tie a knot or a bow.

h. Congratulations, you’re done!



(13(13(13(13))))


Documents

Beads of Courage Bead Bag